Freight-handling apparatus.



J. T. CLARK;- FREIGHT HANDLING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION'FILED DEU.15, 1910.

Patented Sept. 8, 1914.

2 SHEET B-SHEET l.

Jul/altar, Jfihn T Clark By ha'aAttorngS ni''nesses Wh Q 1111- NONNIS 1 1 1511 1 0'. P111) 111111110; WASPIINGIUN, 11, 1.

Witnesses J. T. CLARK.

FREIGHT HANDLING APPARATUS. APPLIOATIONIILED 13120.15} 1910.

Patented Sept. 8, 191.4.

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JOHN T. CLARK, OF, NEW YORK, N. Y.

FREIGHT-HANDLING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 8, 1914..

Application filed December 15, 1910. Serial No. 597,431.

To all whom it mag, concern:

Be it known that I, J 01m T. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Freight-Handling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a freight handling apparatus and is adapted, more particularly, for elevating barrels or casks into or out of vessels to be loaded or unloaded, whereby economy in time and labor required to handle freight is secured.

()ne part of the invention embodies an endless carrier and a plurality of package holders each connected pivotally to said endless carrier in a manner to swing it relative to the path of the carrier and to maintain the load so that the direction of the center of gravity of said load will be substantially central with respect to the path of the carrier whereby the load is distributed substan tially equally on the respective sides of the lead or run of the carrier from which the package holder is suspended.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention each package holder comprises a pivotal rod, a plurality of arms depending from said rod, and curved arms extending transversely of the depending arms, each of said curved arms being attached to one of the depending arms and spaced relatively thereto, an essential feature of the package holder consisting in curved arms spaced with relation to each other, whereby a barrel, cask or package will rest upon the curved arms and occupy a position between the arms depending from the pivotal rod.

The invention embodies, further, an endless carricr, a plurality of package holders thereon, a discharging platform in cooperative relation to said carrier, a directing platform or skid independent of the discharging platform and positioned in cooperative relation thereto, and means whereby barrels or packages may be delivered from the endless carrier to the directing platform, so that the packages will be discharged by gravity from the directing platform upon the discharging platform. This part of the invention is useful for the reason that the discharging platform will rest upon the deck of a vessel for the purpose of delivering the packages automatically to a point adjacent a hatchway, said discharging platform partaking of the rising, falling and swaying motion of the vessel to be loaded. The delivery platform, however, is independent of the discharge platform and is connected with the frame of the apparatus in such a manner that it will notpartake of the swaying motion of the vessel to any appreciable extent, whereby the delivery platform is always in such relation to the endless carrier that the packages will be invariably discharged from said endless carrier to the directing platform.

The invention embodies, also, means for adjusting the discharge platform and the delivery platform in a vertical direction so as to bring the two platforms into proper relation to the deck of a vessel regardless of the height the vessel stands out of the water.

The invention embodies, also, means whereby the weight of the discharging platform is counterbalanced with a view to making it easy for the operators to raise or lower said platforms.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one practical embodiment of the invention, but the construction shown therein is to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device showing'apendant package holder in the operation of loading itself with a barrel from a fixed skid. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 83 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a hori zontal section on line 4.4 of Fig. 1, illustrating,'by dotted lines, the-lateral swinging motion of the discharging platform occasioned by the swaying of the vessel to be loaded. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the delivery and discharge platforms and the means for controlling the move ments of said platforms.

The working parts of my freight handling apparatus are supported on a main operating frame, A, adapted to be positioned upon a dock and adjacent to a vessel, barge, or the like, for the purpose of loading the same. Said main frame is of any substantial construction, and it is shown as having bearings a, a for a power shaft, B, and

an idler shaft, 0, respectively. Said power shaft is positioned at or near thelower part of the frame, and with said shaft is associated suitable means for rotating it, said means consisting of a motor or engine of any suitable kind, or said shaft may be oper ated by hand power.

Secured rigidly to shaft, B, are driving sprockets, l). ldler sprockets, D, are supported by shaft C, said shaft U and sprockets D being at or near the upper end of frame A so as to be above the deck of the vessel or barge to be loaded.

An endless carrier is supported by sprockets l), D of the shafts B, C said endless carrier being shown as comprising sprocket chains E. The chains engage with the teeth. of the sprocket wheels on shafts B, C whereby the endless carrier is-supported on the frame and it is adapted to travel'with respect to the frame by motion imparted thereto from shaft B. The endless carrier supports a plurality of package holders, F, it being preferred to employ a series of said holders in order that a number of packages, barrels or casks may be operated upon simultaneousl whereby the endlesscarrier is adapted to be loaded with one or more barrels before discharging other barrels therefrom. as consisting of a pivotal rodf, a pair of depending arms f provided with inwardly bent lowerends and curved arms The pivotal rod of each package holder is loosely connected to corresponding links of the adjacent endless chains whereby the package holder is adapted to hang downwardly from the pivotal rod, and it is free to swing between the chains of the endless carrier. The curved arms 7" are positioned parallel to each other, and they are spaced apart, as shown more clearly in 2, whereby the curved arms are adapted to pass below a barrel or cask for the purp se of loading said barrel or cask upon the package holder automatically. The space between the curved arms of the package holder is less than the length of the barrel or other package, as will be apparent by an inspection of l 2. Furthermore, the curved arms of the package holder are independent of each other, that is to say, they are not united by any cross connections, each arm being positioned at the near side of one of the pendent arns which is attached to the pivotal rod. This construction is advantageous for the reason that the curved arms of the package holder are adapted to pass on the respective sides of the loading skid G, the latter being positioned on the dock for its curved end 9 to projectinto the path of the package holder as the latter is carried below sprocket wheels D. It is evident that barrels or casks may be run upon skid (7t until they are arrested by curved end 9, said curved end serving as a stop for the barrels. As the package holder travels with the chains of the endless carrier below sprockets D, said holder swings into operative relation to the barrel X, the curved arms f Each package holder is shown of said holder fitting below the barrel or cask, whereby as the package holder is elevated the barrel or cask will move upwardly therewith. It is manifest that the packages are loaded automatically upon the holders of the endless carrier. Each package holder is free to swing between the chains of the endless carrier. Furthermore, each package holder is connected directly to said carrier so as to occupy a compact relation thereto, .vhereby the weight of the load is imposed upon the leads of the carrier chains in a manner to substantially distribute the load uniformly, thus precluding the load from exerting such leverage upon the endless carrier as will tend to distort the chains composing said carrier.

In my apparatus the packages or barrels are loaded upon the carrier on one side thereof and at the lower end, but the pack ages are discharged automatically from said carrier upon the other side thereof and substantially at the upper part, although the point of discharge of the packages will vary according to the height of the vessel or barge.

ll designates a discharging platform positioned upon that side of the frame on which the load is to be discharged, said platform extending upwardly from the frame and the carrier in a manner for its free end to rest upon the deck of a vessel. The platform is provided vith arms 71 having guides it, as shown more clearly in big. at, said guides engaging slidably with the side members or timbers of frame A. Guides h are fitted to two sides of the re spective frame members so that platform l:l,wl1en resting upon the deck of a vessel, will be permitted to move edgewise back and. forth with the swaying motion of a vessel upon which the free end of the platform rests, such position of the platform being indicated in dotted lines in Fig. a. The platform is adapted to have its inner end portion supported by ropes l, the same being attached to arms lb of the platform and run.- ning over guide sheaves or blocks 6 on the upper part of the frame, the other ends of said ropes being fastened. to cleats i. The ropes, 1, provide means for raising or lo .vering the platform relative to frame A so that the platform can be adjusted according to the height of the vessel above the water. The outer end of the platform may be raised or lowered by ropes J leading from shafts or blocks 7' on. the frame and attached to cleats j. The ropes J are adapted to be operated independently of ropes l, whereby the inclination of the platform may be varied without raising the platform bodily by the operation of ropes l. A counterweight lil is employed for assisting in the operation of raising or lowering the platform whereby the labor is minimized. As

shown, the counterweight is provided with the pulley which runs in the bight 7a of a cable K, one end of said cable being fixed to the frame work, as at Z, see Fig. 2. The counterweight cable is provided with two branches, both of which run over a guide sheave Z, one of said branches running downwardly to the platform M and the other branch running over another pulley Z and thence downwardly to said platform H, whereby the two branches of the counterweight cable are adapted for attachment to a platform at the respective sides thereof.

M is the directing platform positioned in cooperative relation to the discharging platform H. Said directing platform is considerably smaller than the discharging platform, substantially as shown in Fig. 1, said directing platform being in a measure independent of the discharging platform. The directing platform is hinged or pivoted, as at m, to slides h the latter embracing the members of upright frame A. Said slides operate to connect the directing platform of frame A independently of the guides it of the discharging platform, whereby directing platform is retained at all; times in the path of the load to be distributed from the endless carrier so that the load will be delivered upon the discharging plat-form irrespective of the position which said discharging platform may occupy with respect to the apparatus. The directing olatform is capable of a aivotal motion on- 1 .L

the hinges m so as to conform to or follow the adjustment of platform H, the outer or free end of plat-form M resting uponsaid platform H. Guides M of the directing platform are provided with depending posts or legs a adapted to rest upon arms it of the directing platform, whereby the elevation of platform H by ropes I will lift the legs a, guides M and directing platform M. The

two platforms are thus adapted to be raised simultaneously by one set of operating ropes, but when, it is desired to lower platform H the pull of the operating ropes is relaxed so that the platform H will lower by gravity and platform M will follow the adjustments of said platform H, thus retaining the two platforms in the desired cooperative relation.

0 designates an ejector which is positioned in the path of the packages on pivoted holders F of the endless carrier. Said ejector is shown as a curved arm or plate supported upon the directing platform, preferably above the latter. Said ejector is thus adjustable with the directing platform so as to be always in cooperative relation thereto, and furthermore, the ejector is so positioned upon the directing platform that it will strike the packages of the package holders in a manner to impart an outward swinging motion, to a limited extent,

to the pivoted package holder whereby the package or barrel will be discharged upon the platform M. The ejector is positioned for operation between curved arms f of the pivoted package holder whereby the arms are adapted to desoen d at the respective sides of said ejector. As shown, the pivoted holders and the chains of the endless carrier will travel through slits provided in the inner end portions of platforms H, M.

fhe operation of the apparatus will be ap parent from the foregoing description. The endless carrier is set in motion by the rotation of shaft B, and barrels, casks or other packages are supplied to the apparatus by skid G. As the endless carrier travels, each package holder is brought into cooperative relation with the skid for the purpose of taking up a barrel therefrom, whereby the barrel is carried upwardly on one side of the carrier. As the holder and load reach the upper part of the frame, the load swings between sprocket wheels D on shaft C. As the load descends on the other side of the endless carrier, it is moved into the path of ejector O, and when the load passes through the slots of the platform, said ejector contacts with the load and imparts a slight swinging motion to the pivoted holder, whereby the load is automatically discharged from the elevating mechanism. The barrel.

is deposited upon platform M, from whence it rolls by gravity on to platform H, the latter operating to deliver the barrel upon the deck of a vessel and at a point adjacent to the hatchway.

The barrels are loaded automatically upon the eleator, carried to the place of dis charge, and automatically unloaded from said elevator mechanism upon platforms which insure the delivery of the barrels upon the deck of a vessel.v The platforms may be raised or lowered with respect to the frame by the means described, and the in-.

clination of said platforms, either or both of them, may be changed independently of the elevating mechanism, whereby said platforms may be slightly inclined so that the barrels will not be discharged at an excessive rate of speed, thereby minimizing the tendency of the barrels to injure the workmen upon the deck of a vessel.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a freight handling apparatus, an endless carrier, a discharging platform extending outwardly therefrom, hoisting mechanism cooperating with the platform for adjusting the latter in a vertical direction and with relation to the endless carrier, means separate from the hoisting mechanism for raising or lowering the outer end of the discharging platform whereby said platform may be positioned in inclined relation to the carrier, and means for transferring a load on the carrier to said discharging platform.

In a freight handling apparatus, an endless carrier, a plurality of package holders thereon, a discharging platform in cooperatii 'e relation to said carrier, a direct in g platform positioned above the dischargorm and cooperating therewith in i g g a load, said directing platform and the discharging platform being so arranged that one of said platforms is capable of a limited edgewise movement relative to the other platform, and means whereby a load may be delivered from the package holders to the directing platform and thence to the discharging platform.

2-. In a freight handling apparatus, an endless carrier, a discharging platform in cooperative relation to said carrier, at directing platform positioned above and inclined relative to the discharging platform, said platforms being so related to each other that the discharging platform may shift its position in a. horizontal direction with reference to the inclined directing platform, means for adjusting the discharging platform, and means whereby the load on the endless carrier may be delivered upon the directing platform.

l. ln a freight handling apparatus, a frame, an endless carrier supported on said frame, pivoted package holders on said endless carrier, a discharging platform, a directing platform. independent of the discharging platform and in cooperative relation thereto, said directing platform being slidably mounted on the frame for vertical movement relative thereto, and means coop crating with the frame and carrier whereby iarlrages may be delivered from the package holders to the directing platform.

ln a freight handling apparatus, an enclless carrier, a discharging platform extend ing outwardly tl'ierefrom, a directing plat-- form inclined relative to, and resting upon, said discharging platform, nrians carried by the directing platform for transferring a load from said endless carrier to the directing platform, an d means whereby the discharging and directing platforms may be raised and lowered. relative to said endless carrier.

(l. in a freight handling apparatus, an endless i'arricr, a normally stationary dis-- cha ng platform extending miovardly means for of a load from said carrier, and a directing platform resting upon said discharging platform, said directing platform being movable in an endwise direction relative to the discharging platform,

'4'. in a freight handling apparatus, an endless elevator, package holders carried thereby, a dischai,

iative relation to said elevator, said platform beingcapable of a limited edgewise movement relative to the elevator, meansfor supporting and vertically adjusting said platform in operative position relative to the elevator, and a hinged directing plat form independent of the discharging platform, said directing platform being adjustable vertically with the discharging platform.

8. In a freight handling apparatus, an ele *ator, a discharging platform in inclined relation to said elevator, means for adjusting said discharging platform whereby the inclination thereof relative to the ele mtor may be varied, a directing platform resting upon the discharging platform, said directing platform cooperating with the discharging platform whereby a vertical adjustment of the discharging platform effects a corr spending change in the positions of both platforms relative to the elevator, and means for delivering a load from the elevator to the directing platform.

9. In a freight handling apparatus, a frame, elevating mechanism thereon, a discharging platform slidably fitted to said frame and extending outwardly from the ele ating mechanism, means for adjusting said platform, a directing platform having a hinged and slidable connection with the frame, and means for ejecting a load from the elevating mechanism to said directing platform.

10. in a freight handling apparatus, elevating mechanism thereon, a discharging platform extending outwardly from the elevating mechanism, a directing platform extending outwardly from the elevating mechanism and cooperating with the discharging platform, and adjusting means operatively connected with the discharging platform, the directing platform and the discharging platform being adjustable simultaneously with relation to the elevating mechanism.

11. in a freight handling apparatus, a frame, an elevating mechanism, a platform extending outwardly from the frame, said platform being loosely connected with the frame and free to change position in a hori- Zontal direction for the purpose of adjusting itself to the movement of a vessel or other structure, means for bodily adjusting the platform in a vertical direction, and means for delivering a load from the elevating mechanism-to the platform.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my nameto this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

dOil-IN T. CLARK. ll itnesses Jars. ll. GRIFFIN,

mg platform in cooner- M, E. FREEMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained. for five cents eaclnby addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 43. 

